JAMAICA yesterday presented the keys to its capital to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo and his Guyanese equal, Bharrat Jagdeo and declared the gesture a symbolic recognition of the deep comradeship that exists among the three countries.

The presentations, made at the newly-opened Emancipation Park in New Kingston, were part of the celebrations marking Jamaica’s 40th anniversary of Independence for which Jagdeo and Olusegun are Prime Minister P J Patterson’s specially invited guests.

They will both address a joint sitting of Parliament tomorrow and will be Patterson’s guests at the Grand Gala show at the National Stadium.

Obasanjo, who leaves the island tomorrow evening, will, before his departure, have a formal bilateral meeting with Patterson as well as accept a courtesy call by Opposition Leader Edward Seaga.

Jagdeo, who made a one-day swing to Jamaica last week to attend a function of the St Elizabeth Homecoming Association, will leave the island on Friday. He will also have bilateral meetings with Patterson, attend the Denbigh Agricultural Show in Clarendon today as well as meet Jamaican journalists.

Yesterday, Patterson told guests at the afternoon ceremony that President Jagdeo headed a country to which both Jamaica and Nigeria were “tied” by a history of colonisation and subsequent independence.

But the links between Jamaica and Guyana, he said, “are further strengthened by our collaborations as countries in our all-important regional organisation — Caricom” which Jagdeo currently chairs.

Said Patterson: “President Jagdeo’s youth and youthful appearance may belie his understanding of the issues faced by all developing countries, as we work assiduously to find a place in the current world economic and political environment, in which the process of globalisation seeks to dictate the terms and conditions under which we can shape our development.”

The opening of Emancipation Park last week, Patterson said, further highlighted the historical links between Jamaica and Nigeria.

“(The park) is a site of memory, dedicated to the indomitable spirit and enduring commitment to freedom of our enslaved ancestors,” he said. “Our ties with President Obasanjo and his people are not confined to those ancestral links, as strong as that chain of connection is, a connection that has survived time, distance and colonial oppression.”

The prime minister said in addition to a common cultural identity, there also existed a “mutuality of interests” among the three nations.

“Nigeria faces the challenges of adjustment to a new global order that would once again relegate us to the status of second class-citizens of the world. We are together locked in the struggle in which we are compelled to call on all our resources of self-confidence, courage and determination, if we are not simply to survive, but to achieve a life of economic, social and spiritual growth and fulfilment,” Patterson said.

In reply, Jagdeo had high praises for Jamaica which, he said, leads the way in several key areas including independence, education and sports.

“We in the region are proud of the inspiration from Jamaica and hope that Jamaica will continue to give that leadership to the region,” Jagdeo said, noting that Guyana and other Caribbean countries are very supportive of Jamaica’s struggle to building a better nation.

Jagdeo added that although the countries in the region have achieved independence, there are still many forces in the world that seek to create new bondages to trap countries such as his, Nigeria and Jamaica in a state of underdevelopment.

President Obasanjo, in his remarks, was critical of how globalisation is shaping the world’s economies. He described globalisation as a new form of bondage and argued that “unless countries such as ours break free from these shackles, we are not going anywhere, we are still going to be oppressed”.

Said Obasanjo: “We were globalised into slavery, colonialism, poverty, oppression and the lopsided nature of the world economic situation.”

In an obvious swipe at the world’s rich countries, Obasanjo said: “Don’t tell us anything about globalisation, give us what is due to us and this will mean economic emancipation”.

He added: “If we manage to achieve both, we will be home well and dry.”

After the presentation ceremony, both presidents attended a dinner hosted by Patterson at Vale Royal.